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Yellowtail · Open

San Onofre Kelp

33.36°N · 117.56°W

Species
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Best score for the day · 2 PM
83/100
GOOD

Now 25 · 9 PM PDT

BEST WINDOW
7 AM-8 PM
Tide ebbing
14-Day Forecast
Data from: ECMWF + GFS + BlueCaster
Mon
Sep 14
Tue
Sep 15
Wed
Sep 16
Thu
Sep 17
Fri
Sep 18
Sat
Sep 19
Sun
Sep 20
Mon
Sep 21
Tue
Sep 22
Wed
Sep 23
Thu
Sep 24
Fri
Sep 25

24-Hour Conditions

All times PDT

Tap or drag to read any hour

Conditions
Time
9 PM
Now
Score
25
Tough
Tide
4.1 ft ▲
Flooding
Current
—
Flood
Wind
2 kn
WSW · steady
Sea state
Choppy
3.0 ft
Air temp
70°
Warm
Weather
Overcast
100% cloud
Hour 9 PM. Score 25 Tough. Tide 4.1ft Rising ▲. Current +1.1kn Flood. Wind 2kn WSW G4. Sea 3.0ft Chop. Air 70.0°.
Why this score
Tide
Mid ebb
Prime
Pressure
1012 hPa
Prime
Swell
2.4 ft
Prime

Current regulations

In effect now

What you can keep at this spot today

Yellowtail
Retention open
Daily limit
10 per day
Possession
10 in possession
Size
Minimum 24"
Annual quota
Not published
Other
Open year-round. Minimum size 24 inches fork length, except up to 5 fish less than 24 inches fork length may be taken or possessed.
Other species here
California Barracuda ClosedKelp Greenling ClosedBarred Sand Bass Retention openCalico Bass ClosedChinook Salmon ClosedCalifornia Sheephead Retention openWhite Seabass Catch & releaseCalifornia Halibut Retention openKelp Bass Retention openCalifornia Scorpionfish Retention open
Always check with CDFW ↗

Source: CDFW · synced today

Seasonality

52-week view · today highlighted

When Yellowtail is best at this spot

Peak seasonCurrently in peak season for Yellowtail
~5 more weeks at peak
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Peak seasonShoulder seasonOff season
SPOT PROFILE
DEPTH
20-60 ft
Kelp
LAUNCH
Not mapped
PEAK
Peak now
STRUCTURE
Kelp Reef
Outer Exposed

Nearby Spots

View all on map →

Other productive spots within easy run

San Onofre Kelp
Groundfish Management Area —
84
Top: Leopard SharkPEAK SEASON
Leopard Shark 84 · California Halibut 82 · Barred Sand Bass 82
0006121824
2 kt W
H 10:50 PM · 1.5 m
L 4:45 AM · 0.3 m
San Mateo Point
Groundfish Management Area —
85
Top: YellowtailPEAK SEASON
Yellowtail 85 · California Halibut 82 · California Sheephead 82
0006121824
2 kt W
H 10:50 PM · 1.5 m
L 4:45 AM · 0.3 m
San Mateo Point
Groundfish Management Area —
84
Top: Leopard SharkPEAK SEASON
Leopard Shark 84 · California Halibut 83 · Barred Sand Bass 82
0006121824
2 kt W
H 10:50 PM · 1.5 m
L 4:45 AM · 0.3 m
San Mateo Point
Groundfish Management Area Southern
84
Top: YellowtailPEAK SEASON
Yellowtail 84 · Barred Sand Bass 83 · California Sheephead 82
0006121824
2 kt W
H 10:50 PM · 1.5 m
L 4:45 AM · 0.3 m

San Onofre Kelp is an outer-exposed kelp reef holding structure over a kelp bottom in 20 to 60 feet of water off Santa Monica, California. The reef draws California Halibut and White Seabass through their Mar–Jul peaks, while Calico Bass fire from Apr–Aug and Yellowtail run the kelp edges May–Oct. Drift fishing live anchovies or sardines works the halibut across the sand-and-kelp margins, and live squid or live sardines produce White Seabass along the same water. Calico Bass respond to swimbaits and soft plastic grubs fished tight to the kelp, and Yellowtail take live sardines and mackerel or heavy iron worked yo-yo style through the deeper reef. California Sheephead hold on the rocky bottom from Apr–Sep, taking squid and cut mackerel worked close to structure.

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